Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Sustainable Foods Systems night courses including CUL113 Commercial Baking Techniques, CUL105 Principles and Skills for Professional Cooking, and AGS182 Gardening Practices and Techniques are still open at the RSC Thomas and RSC Tempe locations. Classes begin August 19. Visit StartAtRio.com to enroll.

Rio Salado offers degree and certificate programs for students pursuing a career in food and nutrition or sustainable agriculture. Course topics include basic nutrition, organic foods production, gardening concepts, food safety and security, food entrepreneurship, careers in the field of food and nutrition, sustainable food preparation practices, and food preparation laws for small-scale food businesses.Visit the Rio Salado College Sustainable Food Systems webpage to learn more.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Alpha Theta Omicron chapter of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society is hosting a recruiting event Thursday, August 15 at the Rio Salado College Conference Center from 6-7:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to stop by to learn more about PTK and meet current members.

PTK Membership comes with many benefits:

Scholarship opportunities

Include membership on resume and college applications

Professional networking opportunities

Community involvement

Camaraderie with fellow students

Gold tassel and stole to be worn at graduation

Bragging rights

Interested students who are not able to make it to the recruitment event are invited to sit in on the regularly scheduled PTK meeting taking place this Saturday from 11 a.m - 1 p.m. at the Rio Salado College Tower.

Current Rio Salado College students who have maintained a 3.5 grade point average after completing at least 12 college-level credits are eligible to participate in PTK. To learn more visit the Rio Salado College Phi Theta Kappa webpage.

Monday, July 29, 2013

With millions of educational, certification, and licensure tests administered in the US. every year, the need for secure testing environments and trained testing staff has never been greater. The Testing and Assessment Center at Rio Salado College sets the bar high and achieved national status as a leader in excellent testing practices.

The center was recently awarded Test Center Certification by the National College Testing Association (NCTA). Criteria for certification are rigorous and are based on the NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines, which were developed to guide post-secondary test centers in the delivery of quality testing programs.

The Rio Salado College Testing and Assessment Center is one of the few test centers in the U.S. and Canada to have completed this intensive certification process. The certification will be in place for five years.

Congratulations are extended to the entire staff of the Rio Salado College Testing and Assessment Center for maintaining high test administration standards and for providing excellent service to a wide variety of students and community members in the performance of their duties.

The National College Testing Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of professionalism and high quality service in the administration of testing programs, offers certification to college and university test centers that demonstrate exemplary practices.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Submitted by Andrew Tucker, District Communications Manager, Maricopa Community Colleges. This story can also be found in the July 27 edition of the Tempe Republic.

Just as there is a need to drive student interest and career choices in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), a nationwide shortage of STEM teachers is simultaneously increasing and widening the job skills gap.

Since 2000, Rio Salado College has certified more than 170 teachers in math and science, and an additional 2,700 students in their elementary, secondary, early childhood or K-12 arts programs.

What’s more, in a survey administered by the Arizona Department of Education in March 2012, 92% of K-12 principals ranked Rio Salado’s first year teacher education graduates as meeting or exceeding the rate of preparedness in comparison to other first-year teachers.

Paul Strauss is a science teacher from the Deer Valley Unified School District who spent eight years in the high tech industry before realizing his true passion was helping people learn.

“I came to Rio Salado to learn how to bridge my work experience into the classroom,” said Strauss. In 2012, he was selected as the Teacher of the Year for his district. “Being an 8th grade science teacher requires me to be on my A-game every day and, because of my experience with Rio Salado, I’ve had the confidence I needed from day one.”

“There are a limited number of teachers who have the content knowledge needed to offer courses that are at a higher academic level,” said Wendy Nance, Chandler Unified School District’s Director of Human Resources. “School districts across the nation have seen the need to increase the knowledge and skills of our students, especially in math and science, in order to prepare our future workforce to compete globally.”

In 2011, Rio Salado College received a coveted five-year National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Grant for its SMILE (Science and Math Innovative Learning Environments) program for Encore Careers in Education.

In fact, Rio Salado was the first community college to serve as the lead institution on a Noyce Grant, which helps professionals who hold a bachelor’s degree and have experience working in a STEM related field transition into 7th-12th grade STEM teaching careers.

In addition to full tuition and fees, the program provides a stipend to help with other educational expenses. Successful participants earn a teaching credential and commit to teach for two years in high-need classrooms. Currently, the program partners with more than a dozen school districts across the state.

“The Noyce Scholarship Program is such a boon to both education and industry – particularly in rural Arizona,” said Susan Carlson, Executive Director of the Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC).

“These scholarships provide a pathway for STEM-talented individuals to move from the private sector into the classroom: benefiting them as individuals, benefiting both students who will learn from experienced STEM professionals, and STEM industries that are looking for well-educated grads.”

Thursday, July 25, 2013

One of the biggest struggles new college students face is managing their time. Whether in-person or online, managing the demands of classes, family, and work can often find even the most prepared student overwhelmed and under-prepared.

One of the best ways for students to get control of their time is to create a study plan. With a mere 168 hours in the week, one of the first considerations is how the student’s time is currently being spent.

How much time is spent on classwork?

How much time is spent at work and commuting?

How many hours of sleep are needed each night?

How much time is needed for relaxing, family activities, and hobbies?

Once students have determined where their time is going, they can begin to construct a study plan that works. First, students should budget their fixed commitments such as class and work schedule. Then schedule seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Finally, dedicate time for hobbies, family time, and relaxation. In order to stay focused on their goals, students should aim for balance between their commitments, rest and fun.

A variety of free products are available for desktop and mobile to help students stay organized and plan their time. Here are a few that might be useful when creating a study plan:

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Rio Salado College Southern is now open. In addition to College Bridge Pathways programming such as GED and English Language Acquisition for Adults, the new location offers testing, academic advising, counseling, and college services for online students and residents of the East Valley.

The Southern location also houses the Small Business Incubator offering assistance to small business owners and local entrepreneurs. It is accessible by Valley Metro #61 and the Tempe Orbit MARS circulator bus.

Monday, July 22, 2013

The award is the result the college’s high performance in an annual survey conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education and Modern Think LLC. The “Great Colleges to Work For” survey identifies institutions that have been successful in creating a great work environment and examines the impact of accepted best practices on the organizational culture at institutions of higher education.

"It's rewarding to be a part of an institution that really walks the talk," said Sharon Koberna, Rio Salado College dean of administration and employee services. "Rio Salado genuinely believes in creating a culture where our employees love what they do. We want our employees to feel a sense of personal pride and ownership in the success of the college. It's nice to be recognized for that."

In addition to being acknowledged as a great college to work for, Rio Salado received Honor Roll standing for rating highly across all categories.

Rio Salado received recognition, based primarily on employee feedback, regarding:

Collaborative governance

Professional and career development programs

Teaching environment

Compensation and benefits

Facilities

Workspace and security

Job satisfaction

Work/life balance

Confidence in senior leadership

Supervisor/department chair relationship

Respect and appreciation

The two-part assessment process included a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff as well as an audit of demographics and workplace policies at each institution. The survey was administered and analyzed by ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that conducts numerous “Best Places to Work” programs.

About Rio Salado College Rio Salado College was established in 1978 by the Maricopa County Community College District to provide the next step in education for non-traditional students. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado is one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation and serves more than 67,000 students annually. Rio Salado offers 100+ degree and certificate pathways and provides flexible, affordable access to education through college bridge pathways, collaborative partnerships, early college initiatives and online learning.

Beginning Thursday, July 25, the course homepage in RioLearn will have a new look. The updated layout includes a new mobile access link in the top navigation. The pages have been updated for easier viewing and readability, and a left-hand navigation bar on the course homepage will guide students through the features of their courses.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

This article can also be found in the July 20 edition of the Tempe Republic

The East Valley Veterans Education Center provides veterans and their families with information, support and advocacy.

"This is the place to come first because we know what direction to get you going in," said Darcy Breault, student services specialist at EVVEC. "We help figure out who to call and what questions to ask."

In addition to one-on-one support, EVVEC also offers a variety of weekly services and workshops that help veterans successfully transition to civilian life.Veterans Upward Bound

Veterans Upward Bound offers remedial math and English classes for free. It is a grant funded program designed to prepare veterans for college placement testing.

"VUB puts the veterans back in the classroom allowing them to get their feet wet," Breault said. "It saves their GI Bill, and expedites their educational process by getting them past the developmental classes."

Breault said she believes VUB serves as a catalyst to educational success for many veterans.

"Once a veteran gets going in the classroom, they really soar," Breault said. "To be able to go into a classroom and study English or math with the camaraderie of other veterans who are also transitioning, builds a team mentality. It takes away some of the nervousness of being in the classroom and some of the anxiety."Veterans Court

Veterans court is a Maricopa County Superior Court program that addresses the increasing number of misdemeanor offenders with service related trauma.

"Veterans court is a place where people understand veterans," Breault said. "They understand some of the triggers that lead to poor decision making and can come up with solutions that make sense."

Gerrick Hyde of Veterans Court is available Wednesdays from 12 - 2 p.m. to discuss eligibility and provide information on the program.

VA Benefits and Health Care Claims

Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans also make regular visits to EVVEC.

The VA transition claims advocate can file a claim or answer questions about a claim, enroll veterans in the healthcare system and has specialized knowledge of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn medical claims.

As an outreach initiative of Rio Salado College and partner colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, EVVEC provides a variety of educational support services including career and personal counseling, military-specific academic advising and assistance navigating the MCCCD registration and enrollment process.

For specific dates and times of any of these services visit www.evvec.org/calendar.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The July 25 application deadline for the $5000 Coca-Cola Company/Tom Browkaw Military Veterans Scholarship is fast approaching. Applications must meet the following criteria and be submitted by fax or email no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, July 25.

Scholarship Criteria

U.S. active duty service member or honorably discharged U.S. military veteran

Full-time student pursuing a degree or certificate at Rio Salado College

Applications can be found on the Rio Salado College Veterans Affairs website. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Scholarship award will be dispersed in the Fall 2013 term. This scholarship is non-transferrable to other institutions. Rio Salado College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Rio Salado College students are encouraged to take at least one College Success Strategies course to prepare for the challenge of college-level courses.

CPD 115 Creating College Success teaches students the skills needed to be successful in college. CPD 115 is a one-credit elective that covers college orientation, personal growth, and study skills development.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Tempe, Ariz., and Seattle, Wash. – July 10, 2013 – Rio Salado College has partnered with the University of Washington (UW) to offer a new, low-cost online bachelor's degree completion program in early childhood education.

This flexible degree helps students earn the credits they need to qualify for admission to the new UW Undergraduate Online Degree Completion program in Early Childhood & Family Studies (ECFS) while saving money. Presented by the UW College of Education, the degree is geared toward students with at least 70 transferable quarter credits who are interested in analyzing and applying the latest evidence-based research in early learning.

The UW courses in the ECFS major will cost $160 per credit for the 2013–2014 academic year, for both in-state and out-of-state students. This is a significant cost reduction from other UW undergraduate degrees, providing affordability for populations that can benefit from degree completion in early childhood education. UW pricing is based on an academic quarter schedule; courses typically last eleven weeks.

“Rio Salado College is excited to partner with the University of Washington, and to expand degree pathway options for our students,” said Dr. Dana Offerman, vice president of academic affairs at Rio Salado.

This new pathway allows reverse transfer credit, meaning students can apply credit earned at the UW toward an associate degree at Rio Salado College.

Selected for its online strengths and track record, Rio Salado is one of only five community colleges chosen by the UW to participate in its innovative reverse transfer offerings. The four other partner colleges are located in the Seattle area.

"This is a very exciting development in the use of technology to meet critical educational needs that otherwise might be difficult to do in a more traditional educational setting," said UW President Michael K. Young.

The format of traditional degree programs can present obstacles for some students, particularly for early care and education workers who work long hours and must commute to on-campus classes.

“Offering online classes and degrees addresses those barriers, and the low cost allows the program to be affordable to students in early childhood programs,” Offerman said.

The early childhood degree pathway will prepare individuals to work in child care, preschools, social and mental health services, arts organizations and parent and family support. For more information see Rio Salado College Transfer Partnerships.

About Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College was established in 1978 by the Maricopa County Community College District to provide the next step in education for non-traditional students. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado is one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation and serves more than 67,000 students annually. Rio Salado offers 100+ degree and certificate pathways and provides flexible, affordable access to education through college bridge pathways, collaborative partnerships, early college initiatives and online learning.

About the University of Washington’s Online Programs

A large, top-ranked public research university, the UW continues to be a leader in online education and innovative programs that increase access to education for non-traditional students. The UW launched 15 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on Coursera in 2012–2013, with four additional MOOCs coming to edX in January 2014. The UW also offers 15 online undergraduate and graduate degrees, 40 online certificate programs, 58 online undergraduate courses and 15 other free courses for the public made available during the last decade.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Rio Salado College President Chris Bustamante has been named to the Presidential Innovation Lab, a groundbreaking effort by the American Council on Education (ACE) to examine possible models inspired by the disruptive potential of new educational technologies such as massive open online courses (MOOCs) to boost the number of Americans able to earn a college degree.

He is among 14 chief executive officers from a diverse group of colleges and universities who are participating in the Presidential Innovation Lab. The Lab will be an opportunity for higher education leaders to engage in proactive thinking about this new learning space and guide a national dialogue about potential new academic and financial models that can help close persistent attainment gaps, including those among low-income young adults.

The initial session will be held July 21-23 at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, CA, an independent, non-profit research organization that will help guide the work of the Presidential Innovation Lab. A second two-day meeting will take place in Washington, DC, in October.

“Examining next generation learning models and determining how they will best serve students is vital to the future of higher education,” Bustamante said. “The Presidential Innovation Lab will allow us to explore attainment gaps and new technologies which have the ability to expand access, retention and completion for students while at the same time increasing productivity and cost-efficiency.”

“This is an opportunity for senior higher education leaders to engage in comprehensive and critical thinking about the potential of this new learning modality to boost attainment levels, particularly among older, post-traditional students, low-income young adults and other underserved students," said ACE President Molly Corbett Broad.

“The work of the Presidential Innovation Lab, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will guide a national dialog about the type of academic and financial models that might grow out of the current high level of interest in MOOCs and other new technologies and learning methods,” added Cathy A. Sandeen, ACE vice president for education attainment and innovation.
Lab participants will consider questions such as how newer educational innovations could be used by students toward degree completion and the potential impact of such innovations on the fundamental design and delivery of instruction, institutions' recognition of learning, and the underlying financing models for all of higher education.

The Presidential Innovation Lab is part of a wide-ranging research and evaluation effort examining the academic potential of MOOCs announced by ACE in November 2012.

About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy.

About Rio Salado CollegeRio Salado College was established in 1978 by the Maricopa County Community College District to provide the next step in education for non-traditional students. The college, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, is one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation serving more than 67,000 students annually. In addition to providing high-quality instruction for 100+ degree and certificate pathways, Rio Salado is dedicated to providing flexible, affordable access through; adult basic education, collaborative partnerships, early college initiatives and online learning. Rio Salado has prided itself on its innovative culture since its inception, as it has always been on the forefront of providing new and more effective ways to help students take the next step in their education.